928 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



lu'tic },'lnc()si(ls during,' ^'fi-iiiiiijition. :i stiiily wms iiiiide of tbe seeds of Phaseolus 

 lunutus, in whk-h seeds and seedliiifjs were examined at regnlar intervals. 



It was found that the total amount of jtlufosid in the seed diminislied. fully 

 i of it beinj; used ui» during f^ermination and growth of the seedlings for 30 

 days in the dark. In tlie seedlings n <>f tlie phaseolunatin was foinid witliin 

 in days after germination. In the seedlings kei)t in the light tlie loss of the 

 glucosid began to be restored in about 10 days through the synthesis of hydro- 

 cyanic acid under the action of chlorophyll, and this formation increased with 

 the development of the leaves. 



The question of the occurrence of free hydrocyanic acid in the seed was 

 investigated, and the author states that if any free hydrocyanic acid is formed 

 during gennination through the action of the glucosid it innnediately disap- 

 pears to form other coinbinations. 



Notes on plants containing' hydrocyanic acid, E. Couperot (./our. I'Jidnn. 

 ct Chim., 6. .scr., 28 (1908), No. 12, p. 5Jf2). — A list is given of 14 species of 

 plants which the author has found to contain hydrocyanic acid, 8 of them being 

 grasses. These species are in addition to those formerly reported by different 

 authors. 



On tlie action of some organic substances on plants, G. Ciamician and 

 C. Ravenna (Gaz. Chim. Ital., 38 (1908), /, No. 6*, jjp. 6"82-6.97 ) .— The authors 

 describe experiments made with a view to studying the formation and biological 

 significance of glucosids in plants. In cultures containing various aromatic 

 compounds and glucosids, corn and beans were grown to ascertain how these 

 substances w'ould react upon the plants. Among the aromatic compounds used 

 were benzoic aldehyde, salicylic aldehyde, hydrochinou, methyl salicylate, beu- 

 zilic alcohol, and vanillin. The glucosids used were amygdalin, salicin, and 

 arbutin. 



The results show that the plants tolerated the glucosids much better than the 

 aromatic substances. In some of the experiments with corn the glucosids were 

 partially broken down and seemed to be utilized by the plants, as only a frac- 

 tion of the original substance could be recovered after the experiment was con- 

 cluded. In the case of amgydalin less than 0.1 was reclaimed at the end of the 

 experiment. 



The authors state that glucosids in the plant are to be considered as reserve 

 materials, and in this form poisonous substances can accumulate that in the 

 free state would not be tolerated by the plant. 



The effect of alkaloids on regeneration in the scarlet runner bean, S. Mor- 

 GULis (Ohio Nat., 9 (1908), No. 2, pp. Ji0/i-Jfl2, flgs. 5).— Experiments are de- 

 scribed in which the effect of the sulphates of atropiu and strychnin, pilocarpine 

 hydrochlorid, and digitalin on the regeneration of scarlet rimner beans was 

 studied. The seeds of the beans were germinated in sawdust, and the seed- 

 lings transferred to jars covered with black paper, in order to protect the roots 

 from sunlight. 



The plants were subjected to different strengths of the alkaloids, and after an 

 interval of 2 days in the solutions were cut off just above the cotyledons and 

 the I'ate and amount of growth, transpiration, etc., determined. The transpira- 

 tion and fresh and dry weight of the plants are showm in tables. Seventeen 

 days after the first mutilation of the plants, the stems were cut a second time 

 near their ends, and the same factors of growth again determined. 



It was found that the alkaloids exert a stimulating influence upon regenerat- 

 ing plants^ increasing the rate of their regeneration. Comparisons were made 

 with the effect of alkaloids on sea-urchin eggs, and with the -single exception of 

 the stronger solution of strychnin the beans were found able to live in concen- 

 trations which would prove fatal to animals. 



